Transparency in church: A Biblical call for confession

The concept of confession isn’t new. In ancient times, sins were openly confessed within the community – as we read in the Law of Moses.

Leviticus 1:4 described how ancient saints pressed their hands onto the head of the sacrificial animal when it was to be offered for their sin. If we compare that with Leviticus 16:21 when the high priest confessed sins as he pressed his hands onto the animal, it is reasonable to assume that this act of confession was included in all such sacrifices.

Numbers 5:5-7 says: ‘And the Lord said to Moses, say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD is guilty and must confess the sin they have committed… .’

It was important that wrongdoing was brought out into the open and spoken about in a shared way, so that the whole community knew what had happened and how it was dealt with.

This is only possible when we live as church. Without real, living church the best we can do is try to find systems to manage and contain our evil – but as church we can confess, confront, condemn and even cleanse in the amazing way that only Jesus and the Spirit make possible.

Church is how our demons and darkness can be driven out – and so it is especially important that the sins of church leaders are addressed and dealt with in a public way.

1 Timothy 5:20 says: ‘Those leaders who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.’

The Bible provides numerous examples of the importance of openness and honesty, genuine confession and confrontation.

Proverbs 28:13 says: ‘Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.’

Psalm 32:5 says: ‘I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.

The story of Achan in Joshua 7 is so powerful because the secret, hidden sin was brought into the light by the power of the LORD God. He hates it when secret sins fester – when shame and guilt keep evil hidden in the darkness. Achan’s refusal to bring his sin into the open brought powerlessness and trouble onto the ancient church.

Church is where we are radically open to each other – where we bring all our mess and our dirty secrets. Church is how we can share our mess – our secrets and our fears, our obsessions and addictions, especially the areas of life where shame and guilt fester.

We can confess our sins to one another without announcing 18-certificate sins to everybody in a church gathering! However, we MUST share all our sins with SOME people – and not just the people who don’t care what we do or those who are too timid to challenge us, rebuke us or correct us.

If we are trying to carry our sins alone, in respectable privacy, we are not really repenting of our sins or serious about gaining freedom from our fears, addictions and obsessions.

The devil has secret schemes and crafty plans; while the church is a light on a hill, designed to be seen and revealed. The mark of all crafty, corrupt religious schemers is staying hidden– keeping sections of their lives hidden away from their ‘ministry’. They love secret meetings and backroom deals. When they are found out they always use clever words to frame what they did. They don’t openly confess their sins but try to ‘manage’ their situation and minimise their guilt.

If we confess sin only privately to the LORD, we are not really confessing our sins to one another at all. If we confess our sins only to a ‘safe’ small select group who will be very sympathetic and comforting, we are perhaps beginning to THINK about confessing our sins to one another.

Only when we genuinely confess our sins to others in the church family who will grieve over our sins and confront us about our sins - and give us wisdom and strength to escape them… THAT is when we really are beginning to confess our sins to one another.

James 5:16-20 says: ‘Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’

Transparency isn’t just about confessing sins; it’s about fostering a culture of openness and honesty in all aspects of church life. This includes financial transparency, leadership accountability, and open communication.

The call for transparency in the church isn’t a new one; it’s a timeless principle rooted in Scripture. By embracing openness with liberating confession and honesty, churches can create a space where individuals can truly experience healing, growth, and community. It’s time to step out of the shadows and into the light, reflecting the truth and grace of Jesus Christ.